Dual mode aircraft light assembly

ABSTRACT

A dual mode light assembly for a forward position light of an aircraft includes a base, a visible light source mounted to the base that is configured to emit visible light, a covert light source mounted to the base that is configured to emit covert light, and a light shield mounted to the base. The light shield is configured to restrict transmission of the visible light to a visible light pattern and to restrict transmission of the covert light to a covert light pattern.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of, claims priority to, and the benefitof, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/211,164, filed Jul. 15, 2016entitled “DUAL MODE AIRCRAFT LIGHT ASSEMBLY,” which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS

This disclosure was made with government support under contract numberW58RGZ-04-G-0023 awarded by the United States Army. The government hascertain rights in the disclosure.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to aircraft position lights, and morespecifically, to dual mode aircraft light assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Aircraft position lights are regulated by the Federal AviationAdministration (“FAA”) and other regulatory agencies. Position lightsimprove the visibility of aircraft, thereby allowing air trafficcontrollers and other aircraft to visually identify and orient theaircraft. In certain situations, non-visible lights, such as infraredlights, are utilized on an aircraft. Such non-visible lights enable anaircraft to operate in covert mode. In covert mode, bystanders using thenaked eye are unable to see the non-visible lights but people equippedwith appropriate devices, such as infrared detectors, are able toperceive the non-visible light and thereby identify and orient theaircraft.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a dual modelight assembly for a position light of an aircraft. The dual mode lightassembly includes a base, a visible light source mounted to the basethat is configured to emit visible light, a covert light source mountedto the base that is configured to emit covert light, and at least onelight shield mounted to the base. The at least one light shield isconfigured to restrict transmission of the visible light to a visiblelight pattern and to restrict transmission of the covert light to acovert light pattern.

In various embodiments, the position light is a forward position lightand the at least one light shield is a single light shield that islaterally offset relative to the visible light source on the base toblock inboard transmission of the visible light. The visible lightpattern may be bounded by a blocking element of at least one of the dualmode light assembly and the aircraft such that a horizontal angle of thevisible light pattern between the single light shield and the blockingelement is at least 110 degrees but less than 120 degrees. The blockingelement may include a blocking surface of the base. The base may beangled in an aft direction.

In various embodiments, the single light shield is disposed below thecovert light source on the base to block downward transmission of thecovert light. Accordingly, a vertical angle of the covert light patternbetween a horizontal plane and the single light shield may be at most 45degrees downwards. In various embodiments, the dual mode light assemblyfurther includes a reflector mounted to the base that is configured toreflect the covert light in an aft direction such that a horizontalangle of the covert light pattern from a line of flight of the aircraftis at least 120 degrees. The reflector may be laterally offset relativeto the covert light source on the base to block inboard transmission ofthe covert light.

In various embodiments, the visible light source may include a lightemitting diode. In various embodiments, the visible light sourceincludes multiple light emitting diodes vertically aligned across thebase. In various embodiments, the covert light source includes aninfrared emitter. In various embodiments, the visible light source isboth vertically and horizontally offset from the covert light source. Invarious embodiments, the visible light source is laterally offsetrelative to the covert light source. The single light shield may be anarch structure that extends outward and across the base. Components ofthe base may be mounted to the base under a span of the arch. In variousembodiments, the single light shield may be separate from a housing ofthe dual mode light assembly.

Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a dual modelight assembly for a forward position light of an aircraft. The dualmode light assembly includes a base, a visible light source, a covertlight source, a single light shield, and a reflector. The visible lightsource may be mounted to the base and may be configured to emit visiblelight. The covert light source may be mounted to the base and may beconfigured to emit covert light. The single light shield may be mountedto the base and may be configured to restrict transmission of thevisible light to a visible light pattern and to restrict transmission ofthe covert light to a covert light pattern. In various embodiments, thesingle light shield may be laterally offset relative to the visiblelight source on the base to block inboard transmission of the visiblelight. In various embodiments, the visible light pattern may be boundedby a blocking element of at least one of the dual mode light assemblyand the aircraft. In various embodiments, a horizontal angle of thevisible light pattern between the single light shield and the blockingelement may be at least 110 degrees but less than 120 degrees. Invarious embodiments, the single light shield may be disposed below thecovert light source on the base to block downward transmission of thecovert light, thus a vertical angle of the covert light pattern betweena horizontal plane and the single light shield may be at most 45 degreesdownwards. In various embodiments, the reflector may be mounted to thebase and may be configured to reflect the covert light in an aftdirection such that a horizontal angle of the covert light pattern froma line of flight of the aircraft is at least 120 degrees.

Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a dual modelight assembly for an aft position light of an aircraft. The dual modelight assembly includes a base, a visible light source mounted to thebase that is configured to emit visible light, a covert light sourcemounted to the base that is configured to emit covert light, a firstlight shield configured to limit restrict transmission of the visiblelight to a visible light pattern, and a second light shield mounted tothe base and configured to restrict transmission of the covert light toa covert light pattern. In various embodiments, a horizontal angle ofthe visible light pattern is 120 degrees and a vertical angle of thecovert light pattern between a horizontal plane and the second lightshield is at most 45 degrees downwards.

Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an aircrafthaving a forward dual mode light assembly disposed on each side of theaircraft and an aft dual mode light assembly disposed on an aft sectionof the aircraft. Each of the forward dual mode light assemblies may havea first visible light source and a first covert light source mounted toa first single base. The aft dual mode light assembly may include asecond visible light source and a second covert light source mounted toa second single base.

In various embodiments, the first light shield may extend in an aftdirection from peripheral edges of an aft facing surface of the base. Invarious embodiments, the visible light source may include multiple lightemitting diodes disposed around the covert light source.

The forgoing features and elements may be combined in variouscombinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated hereinotherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of thedisclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of thefollowing description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of position light patterns on anaircraft, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a dual mode light assembly fora forward position light of an aircraft, in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an aircraft showing both a visiblelight pattern and a covert light pattern, in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of an aircraft showing a covert lightpattern, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a dual mode light assembly foran aft position light of an aircraft, in accordance with variousembodiments; and

FIG. 6 illustrates side view of an aircraft showing a covert lightpattern, in accordance with various embodiments.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Amore complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may bestbe obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims whenconsidered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein like numeralsdenote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes referenceto the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way ofillustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice thedisclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may berealized and that logical changes and adaptations in design andconstruction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and theteachings herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented forpurposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

In various embodiments, a dual mode light assembly is disclosed herein.The dual mode light assembly includes both a visible light source and acovert light source mounted to the same base. Stated differently, thedual mode light assembly disclosed herein enables an aircraft to operatein two modes, either visible mode or covert mode, without having twoseparate assemblies/modules for each different type of light.

With reference to FIG. 1, and in accordance with various embodiments, anaircraft 10 generally includes forward facing position lights 21, 22disposed on each side of the aircraft 10. In various embodiments, theforward facing position lights 21, 22 are disposed as far apartlaterally as practicable on the aircraft 10. The aircraft 10 generallyalso includes an aft facing position light 23. Generally, the rightforward position light 21 emits green visible light 31, the left forwardposition light 22 emits red visible light 32, and the aft position light23 emits white light 33. As mentioned above, if the aircraft 10 operatesin a covert mode, conventional aircraft 10 generally include separateposition light assemblies disposed proximate or adjacent to the visiblelights 21, 22, 23.

XYZ axes are shown in the figures for convenience, with z extendingperpendicular to the xy plane. In that regard, a measurement pointdisplaced in the positive z axis direction from a given reference pointmay be considered “above” or on “top” of the given reference point. Incontrast, a measurement point displaced in the negative z axis directionfrom the given reference point may be considered “below” or on “bottom”of the given reference point. In that regard, the terms “top” and“bottom” may refer to relative positions along the z axis.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is an indication of a line of flight 11 of theaircraft 10. The XYZ axes, as well as the terms “horizontal” and“vertical”, are associated with and relative to the line of flight 11.Said differently, a horizontal plane is a plane that is parallel to theline of flight 11 and not necessarily parallel to ground. Accordingly,as defined herein, “horizontal angles” are angles are in the xy plane,which is relative to the line of flight 11, and “vertical angles” areangles in the yz plane, which is relative to the line of flight 11.Additionally, the terms “inboard” and “outboard” are position termsrelative to the fuselage of the aircraft 10. Said differently, if afirst component is inboard relative to a second component, the firstcomponent is nearer the fuselage than the second component.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a dual mode light assembly 100 for aforward position light of the aircraft 10. A dual mode light assembly200 for an aft position light is described in detail below withreference to FIG. 5. The dual mode light assembly 100, according tovarious embodiments, includes a base 110, one or more visible lightsources 120, one or more covert light sources 130, a light shield 140,and a reflector 150. As mentioned above, both the visible light source120 and the covert light source 130 may be mounted, according to variousembodiments, to the same base 110. The base 110 may be a wiring board, acircuit board, a wiring substrate, a circuit substrate, a printed wiringassembly, a printed circuit assembly, or a printed circuit board, amongothers. Thus, the base 110 may have circuity components and otherfeatures attached thereto.

In various embodiments, the visible light source 120 is configured toemit a visible light. In various embodiments, the visible light source120 may be a light emitting diode or another device or article thatproduces visible light, such as electromagnetic radiation having awavelength of about 400 nm to less than 700 nm. As mentioned above, thevisible light source 120 may have a specific color (e.g., wavelength)based on which side of the aircraft 10 the dual mode light assembly 100is positioned. The covert light source 130 is configured to emit acovert light. As used herein, the term “covert light” refers toelectromagnetic radiation that is not visible to the naked human eye. Invarious embodiments, for example, the covert light source 130 may be aninfrared emitter that emits infrared radiation, such as radiation havinga wavelength of about 700 nm to 1000 nm.

As mentioned above, regulatory aircraft agencies, such as the FederalAviation Administration (“FAA”), often establish rules regarding thedirection and transmission ranges of visible light. Also as mentionedabove, government or military divisions may require, in addition to thevisible light standards, covert light standards regarding thetransmission patterns of covert light. Accordingly, the dual mode lightassembly 100 is configured to comply with visible light standards andcovert light standards.

With reference to FIG. 2-4, and in accordance with various embodiments,the light shield 140 is shown mounted to the base and is configured torestrict transmission of both the visible light and the covert light.Said differently, the light shield 140 blocks at least portions of thevisible light to form a visible light pattern 122 (FIG. 3) and at leastportions of the covert light to form a covert light pattern 132 (FIGS. 3and 4). The dual mode light assembly 100, according to variousembodiments, may also include a reflector 150 that is configured tofurther contribute to the light patterns 122, 132.

In various embodiments, the one or more visible light sources 120 aredisposed outboard relative to the light shield 140. The light shield 140may be made from a material that blocks light and thus does not allowlight to transmit through itself. In such a configuration, transmissionof visible light is blocked from being directed inboard towards thefuselage of the aircraft by the light shield 140. Such a feature may bebeneficial, according to various embodiments, to prevent the visiblelight from distracting the pilot and/or passengers of the aircraft 10.The dual mode light assembly 100 may also include a blocking element,such as a blocking surface 112 of the base 110, that may provide anopposite boundary for the visible light pattern 122. As described ingreater detail below, the blocking surface 112 may also provide aboundary for the covert light pattern 132.

In various embodiments, inboard transmission of visible light may berestricted by the light shield 140 and outboard transmission of visiblelight may be restricted by the blocking surface 112 of the base 110,according to various embodiments. Accordingly, the visible light pattern122 may have a horizontal angle 124 that is restricted between the lightshield 140 on one side and the blocking surface 112 of the base 110 onthe other. In various embodiments, the horizontal angle 124 of thevisible light pattern 122 may be at least about 110 degrees but lessthan about 120 degrees, wherein the term about in this context onlymeans +/−2 degrees. In other words, certain regulations may suggest orrequire that visible light should be transmitted up to 110 degrees froma vertical plane parallel to the line of flight 11. However, suchregulations may also suggest or require that the visible light not betransmitted beyond 120 degrees from the vertical plane parallel to theline of flight 11.

In various embodiments, the base 110 may be angled in an aft direction.As shown in FIG. 2, the blocking surface 112 is angled towards the aftof the aircraft 10, thus enabling the visible light pattern to extend,for example, the entire 110 degrees from the line of flight 11 of theaircraft 10. In various embodiments, the base may be disposed at anangle to the vertical plane that contains the line of flight.

As mentioned above, it may be beneficial in various embodiments to limitthe transmission of the covert light pattern 134. Accordingly, invarious embodiments, light shield 140 may be disposed below the covertlight source 130 in order to block downward transmission of the covertlight. In such embodiments, a vertical angle 136 of the covert lightpattern 132 (FIG. 4) between a horizontal plane 12 and the light shield140 is at most about 45 degrees downwards, wherein the term about inthis context only means +/−2 degrees. Regarding the covert light pattern132, the reflector 150 may be mounted to the base 110 in variousembodiments and may be configured to reflect the covert light in an aftdirection such that a horizontal angle 134 of the covert light pattern132 from the line of flight 11 of the aircraft 10 is at least 120degrees. Said differently, the covert light pattern 132 may extend,whether suggested by regulation or not, up to and beyond 120 degrees(the horizontal angle 134 shown in FIG. 3), as measured from a verticalyz plane parallel to the line of flight 11 of the aircraft 10. Invarious embodiments, the reflector 150 may be laterally offset (e.g.,inboard) relative to the covert light source 130 to block inboardtransmission of the covert light, similar to the inboard transmissionblocking of the light shield 140 for the visible light.

As mentioned above, in various embodiments, the visible light source 120may include multiple light emitting diodes. The multiple light emittingdiodes may be aligned vertically, for example, across the surface of thebase 110. The relative positioning of the visible light source 120 andthe covert light source 130 may be offset. In various embodiments, theoffset may be both horizontal and vertical. For example, the visiblelight source 120 may be disposed outboard relative to the covert lightsource 130.

Because the light shield 140 restricts both the visible light and thecovert light, the light shield 140 may have a shape that is specific toa given configuration. For example, in various embodiments the lightshield 140 may have an arch structure that extends outward away from andacross a portion of the base 110. Such a structure allows for circuitrycomponents and other wiring features to be mounted to the base 110‘under’ the span of the arch. In various embodiments, the light shield140 may have other shapes, such as triangular, pyramid-like, conical,frusto-conical, etc. In various embodiments, the light shield 140 is notpart of an external housing of the dual mode light assembly 100. Saiddifferently, the light shield 140 may be separate and independent fromany housing of the dual mode light assembly 100 and/or any componentsexternal to the dual mode light assembly 100.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, and in accordance with variousembodiments, the dual mode light assembly 200 for an aft position lightof the aircraft 10 is shown. The dual mode light assembly 200 includes abase 210, a plurality of visible light sources 220, a covert lightsource 230, a first light shield 240, and a second light shield 260. Thefirst light shield 240 may be configured to restrict the visible lightto a visible light pattern 222 (FIG. 3). The visible light pattern 222may have a horizontal angle 224 that is about 120 degrees having acenterline parallel to the line of flight 11 of the aircraft. In variousembodiments, the first light shield may extend in an aft direction fromperipheral edges of an aft facing surface of the base, as shown in FIG.5.

In various embodiments, the second light shield 260 may be mounted tothe base and may be configured to restrict transmission of covert lightfrom the covert light source 230 to a covert light pattern 232. Thecovert light pattern 232 may have a vertical angle 236, as measuredbetween a horizontal plane 12 and the second light shield 260, that isat most about 45 degrees downwards. In various embodiments, theplurality of visible light sources 220 may be disposed around the covertlight source 230 to ensure that the second light shield 260 does notinadvertently block the visible light in a certain direction.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, theconnecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein areintended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physicalcouplings between the various elements. It should be noted that manyalternative or additional functional relationships or physicalconnections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits,advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause anybenefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced arenot to be construed as critical, required, or essential features orelements of the disclosure.

The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothingother than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly sostated, but rather “one or more.” It is to be understood that unlessspecifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” and/or “the” mayinclude one or more than one and that reference to an item in thesingular may also include the item in the plural. All ranges and ratiolimits disclosed herein may be combined.

Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is usedin the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to meanthat A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present inan embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that anycombination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a singleembodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denotedifferent parts but not necessarily to denote the same or differentmaterials.

The steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may beexecuted in any order and are not necessarily limited to the orderpresented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes pluralembodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step mayinclude a singular embodiment or step. Elements and steps in the figuresare illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beenrendered according to any particular sequence. For example, steps thatmay be performed concurrently or in different order are illustrated inthe figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

Any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may includepermanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possibleattachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (orsimilar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denotedifferent parts or areas but not necessarily to denote the same ordifferent materials. In some cases, reference coordinates may bespecific to each figure.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detaileddescription herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described mayinclude a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but everyembodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed. After reading the description, it will be apparent to oneskilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure inalternative embodiments.

Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the presentdisclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless ofwhether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited inthe claims. No claim element is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f)unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” Asused herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variationthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aircraft comprising: a forward dual mode lightassembly disposed on each side of the aircraft, wherein each forwarddual mode light assembly comprises a first visible light source and afirst covert light source mounted to a first single base; and an aftdual mode light assembly disposed on an aft section of the aircraft,wherein the aft dual mode light assembly comprises a second visiblelight source and a second covert light source mounted to a second singlebase.